A new memory came to me. I had tended to his wounds before. During the Battle of the Mairead Coast, before we were married. Seeing him so badly wounded was when I had first realized that I was in love with him.
The new memory sparked the realization that I had been in love with him since the very first moment I’d seen him. It occurred to me that if I had loved him the same way Sophia loved Aiden, before anything had started happening to me, then I must truly be Sophia.
I looked into Aaron’s eyes and with a smile said, “I called him, Aiden.”
“How do you know that name?” Andrew asked.
“Because it’s his. Just like mine is Sophia and yours is Kane.”
“How do you know those names, Shaylee?”
I ignored Andrew’s question and frowned at Aaron’s wound. I’d finished bandaging it, but was frustrated by my lack of magical knowledge.
“I’m sorry,” I told Aaron. “I know I’m a natural born Healer, but for some reason that ability never developed in this life. I’m sure if I had enough time I could remember a spell to heal it.”
“You know?” Aaron asked, though he said it in a way that made it sound like more of a statement.
“Yes,” I replied.
I turned away from him and returned the items to the first aid kit. I picked up a bag and then took one of the swords from the floor.
“We have to go before they wake up,” I said and walked out the door.
They followed me to Jaden’s car and we packed everything into the trunk. I noticed that Jaden had picked up several other swords. I knew she wanted to be prepared for anything.
It was going to be dangerous, that much was obvious, but I would do everything I could to protect the ones I loved. I took one last look at the house I’d grown up in and got into the car. My destiny was waiting.
Afterword
After twelves years, I finally revisited this book and decided that the time had finally come for me to do something with it. Reading has always been my passion and it seemed only natural to begin writing my own stories.
Graduate school distracted me from my writing and so all of my work sat untouched for several years. I assumed I would never touch it again. When I finally did, it seemed like an old friend, just waiting for me to return.
I'm so excited to get this series out there. It may not have gone in the direction I'd originally intended, but I'm proud of where it ended up.
Acknowledgements
To begin with, I have to thank my husband, Andrew for motivating me to finish this book. Thank you so much for your support though this process and for helping me work out details.
I'd also like to thank Lisa for being my sounding board and editor. Typos don't stand a chance against you!
To Barbra, thank you for your unwavering support and enthusiasm for my writing.
I also need to thank the rest of my friends and family for just being a wonderful part of my life and always supporting me.
